Reykjavik: Whale Watching & Northern Lights Combo Cruise

The best part of this Reykjavik combo is the contrast: whales by daylight, Northern Lights after dark. You spend the afternoon watching the sea for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, and porpoises, then return later to search the sky from Faxaflói Bay.

I like two things here. First, the boat has heated indoor cabins, toilets, WiFi, and warm flotation overalls, so you can watch the water without turning into an Icelandic ice sculpture. Second, if weather cancels or spoils the Northern Lights trip, you can usually reschedule or receive a refund for that part. The main drawback is simple: $205 is a serious price, and nature still controls the sightings.

Key things to know before booking

• Two separate cruises in one day: A 2.5 to 3-hour whale trip is followed by about five hours on land before the evening Northern Lights cruise.
• Faxaflói Bay is the setting: You get open-water views toward Reykjavik’s mountains, islands, and coastal birdlife while searching for marine animals.
• The main wildlife targets: Minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbor porpoises, and sometimes seals.
• Warmth is built in: Heated cabins, toilets, warm flotation overalls, and complimentary seasickness tablets make the boat easier to handle.
• Sightings are never promised: Bad weather can cancel the Northern Lights outing, while whale sightings depend on the animals and sea conditions.
• Guides add real value: Guides including Rebekka, Lucas, Daniel, and others have been praised for clear information, energy, and helpful support.

A full day on Faxaflói Bay

This is not one long six-hour cruise. It is two outings, separated by a five-hour break in Reykjavik. That structure matters.

You begin at Geirsgata 11, where you check in at the Special Tours office on the corner. Arrive 30 minutes early. The harbor location is within easy walking distance of central hotels, and one recent booking described it as a simple walk from Center Hotels Plaza and bus stop number 4.

The first cruise lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours. After returning to Reykjavik, you have roughly five hours to eat, warm up, visit a museum, or rest at your hotel before checking in again for the evening departure. The Northern Lights cruise lasts about two hours.

I like this split far better than a forced all-day boat trip. You get a proper break instead of spending six hours at sea, and you can adjust your evening plans around the weather. The tradeoff is that you must return to the harbor twice, so this is not the most effortless choice if you prefer a single continuous excursion.

What the whale-watching cruise is really like

The morning or daytime portion takes you into Faxaflói Bay, the broad body of water off Reykjavik. The goal is to find animals in their natural environment, not to visit a controlled attraction. That makes each sighting exciting, but also unpredictable.

The guides scan the water and explain what to watch for. A whale’s blow may appear first, followed by a dark back or tail. Dolphins can be harder to track because they move quickly, while humpback whales often create the most dramatic moments simply because of their size.

The main species listed for this trip are minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, and white-beaked dolphins. Seals and seabirds are also possible. Several outings have produced more than one kind of animal, including humpbacks with minkes, dolphins, and seals.

Some sightings have happened very soon after leaving the dock. One outing found humpback whales within five minutes. Another produced two humpbacks and playful dolphins. Those are excellent results, but you should not treat them as a promise. Wildlife moves on its own schedule, and rough water can affect both comfort and visibility.

The boat gives you indoor and outdoor viewing options. The heated indoor bar is useful when the wind picks up, while the outside deck gives you a better chance of seeing the full surface of the bay. The provided warm flotation overalls are a practical feature, not just a nice extra. Even if the air does not feel bitter at the harbor, conditions can feel much colder once the boat is moving.

Guides who make the difference

A good wildlife guide does more than announce a whale. The guide helps you understand where to look, explains the animals’ behavior, and keeps the mood upbeat during quiet stretches.

Rebekka has been singled out for her excitement and passion during a trip that included dolphins and two humpback whales. Lucas received praise for being entertaining and helpful during a day that included both a whale and the Northern Lights. Daniel was remembered as the best part of another whale-and-seal outing.

You may not have any of those guides on your particular departure, but their names give you a useful sense of the guiding style. This is an informative, live English-language tour, not a silent boat ride where you are left to guess at every splash.

The commentary also helps during stretches when no animals appear. That matters because whale watching involves patience. You may spend time scanning empty water, then suddenly find yourself watching a whale surface nearby. The guides keep that waiting period from feeling wasted.

Five hours in Reykjavik between cruises

The break is one of the most important practical details. After the whale cruise, you return to Geirsgata 11 and have about five hours before the Northern Lights departure.

Use this time wisely. Food and drinks are not included on either boat, though you can buy refreshments onboard. A proper meal in Reykjavik is likely more comfortable and gives you a chance to warm up before heading back to sea.

You can also return to your accommodation if it is nearby. Pack a charged phone, review the evening weather, and bring an extra layer even though overalls are supplied. One person managed only a few Northern Lights photos before a phone battery died, so charge your phone fully before leaving and consider carrying a portable battery if you have one.

The long break makes this combo easier than it may first appear. You are not stuck on a boat all day, and you can decide how much energy you want to spend before the evening outing. Still, make sure the timetable works with your other Reykjavik plans. This experience occupies a large part of the day and evening.

Searching for the Northern Lights from the sea

The evening cruise heads away from the city lights and searches for a darker viewing area on Faxaflói Bay. You can stay in the heated indoor bar or put on the supplied warm flotation overalls and watch from the outdoor deck.

The sea offers wide, unobstructed views in every direction. If the aurora appears, you may see it spread across a large section of sky rather than peeking between buildings. The trip also gives you the unusual sensation of standing on dark water beneath the stars, which can make even a faint display feel special.

But this is the part of the experience that requires the most realistic expectations. Northern Lights sightings depend on weather and conditions. A clear forecast does not guarantee a strong display, and clouds can end the trip before the lights appear.

The evening cruise has been cancelled for bad weather on some departures. In that situation, the operator may offer a refund or let you reschedule for another night. That policy gives the activity some protection against Iceland’s changeable conditions, but it does not create an extra night in your schedule. If seeing the aurora is your top priority, leave room in your itinerary for a second attempt.

On a successful night, the payoff can be remarkable. One outing saw the lights almost immediately after leaving the dock. Another combined a whale sighting earlier in the day with an evening aurora, producing the kind of rare double win that people hope for when booking this package.

Comfort, motion, and what to bring

The boat has heated indoor cabins, toilets, and free WiFi. Warm flotation overalls are included, and complimentary seasickness tablets are available. Those details make a genuine difference, especially during the longer whale-watching portion.

You should still dress for Icelandic weather. Wear weather-appropriate clothing and choose layers that are easy to add or remove. The outdoor deck is the best place to scan for whales and watch the sky, but it is also the coldest and most exposed place onboard.

If you are prone to seasickness, use the available tablets and consider taking sensible precautions before departure. The activity provider does not promise calm water. In fact, one booking was moved by a day because conditions were too choppy. That change led to a much better whale-watching experience, but it shows why flexibility helps.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible. Pets and smoking are not allowed. The boat may sometimes be shared with a partner operator for environmental reasons, reducing the number of vessels on the water. That could mean the boat or onboard setup is not identical on every departure, so ask the office if a particular accessibility detail matters to you.

Is $205 a fair price?

At $205 per person, this is expensive. One person called it very expensive, while also noting that Iceland itself is costly. That is a fair assessment.

You are paying for two separate boat trips, professional guides, warm flotation gear, indoor facilities, and the convenience of booking both experiences together. If you planned to book whale watching and a Northern Lights cruise separately, the combo could save planning time and may offer better value than arranging two unrelated outings.

The strongest value comes when you succeed at both parts. Seeing humpback whales or dolphins in the afternoon and the aurora at night creates a full Iceland experience in one day. If weather cancels the evening outing, the value becomes less attractive, though the chance to reschedule or request a refund helps.

I would not book this solely because the word combo sounds efficient. Book it because you have enough time in Reykjavik, want a full marine-and-sky day, and accept that both sightings are natural events. For a short visit, the chance to combine two major Iceland activities may justify the cost.

Who should choose this combo

This suits you if you want a structured day with plenty of support. First-time visitors to Iceland may appreciate the simple central meeting point, English-speaking guides, supplied overalls, and clear plan for handling the gap between cruises.

It is also a good fit for families and couples who want two different kinds of nature experience without arranging transport outside Reykjavik. The heated cabin and toilets make it more manageable than a bare-bones boat trip.

Photography-minded visitors should bring a fully charged phone or camera. The whale cruise can produce fast, fleeting moments, while the Northern Lights may be faint or spread across a wide area. A dead battery is an avoidable disappointment.

This may not suit you if you dislike open-water travel, have only a few free hours, or need a guaranteed aurora sighting. You should also think twice if a weather-related schedule change would disrupt your plans. The activity has a generous structure, but it still depends on the sea and sky.

Practical details that affect your day

Check in at Geirsgata 11, at the Special Tours office on the corner, 30 minutes before departure. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own route to the harbor.

The exact start time varies, and availability should be checked before booking. The listed total duration is six hours, but the five-hour break means your day may stretch across a much longer period from first check-in to final return. Treat it as a major day-and-evening commitment.

Free WiFi is available onboard, and food and drinks can be purchased. You should not rely on onboard food as your only meal, since the break in Reykjavik gives you a better chance to eat properly.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those options are useful when Iceland’s weather forecast is uncertain, but they do not remove the need to check the schedule carefully.

Should you book it?

I would book this combo if you want whales and the Northern Lights, have a full day available, and can accept a little uncertainty. The strongest praise has centered on humpback whales, playful dolphins, warm equipment, and guides such as Rebekka, Lucas, and Daniel who make the waiting and searching more enjoyable.

The price is high, and a cloudy evening or rough sea can reduce what you see. Still, the split schedule, rebooking option for the Northern Lights, and comfortable boat facilities make this a sensible choice for many Reykjavik visitors. Charge your phone, dress warmly, keep your evening flexible, and let the animals and weather decide how spectacular the day becomes.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik. Check in at the Special Tours office on the corner and arrive 30 minutes early.

How long is the whale-watching cruise?

The whale-watching portion lasts about 2.5 to 3 hours and takes place in Faxaflói Bay.

How long is the Northern Lights cruise?

The Northern Lights outing lasts about two hours and takes you away from city lights to search for the aurora at sea.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, seals, and birdlife.

What is included onboard?

The tour includes experienced English-speaking guides, warm flotation overalls, free WiFi, heated indoor cabins, toilets, and complimentary seasickness tablets.

What happens if the Northern Lights cruise is cancelled?

Bad weather can cancel the Northern Lights outing. You may request a refund or reschedule for another night, depending on the arrangements offered by the activity provider.